Academic WorldQuest™

 

Each year, World Affairs Councils around the United States host Academic WorldQuest competitions for high school students. Academic WorldQuest™ tests players’ knowledge of current international politics, geography, global economics, history, and world cultures. The World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana hosts nearly 60 Kentuckiana students, who participate each Spring. Teams of four (4) study for a chance to compete on the national level in Washington D.C. against other regional winners.

The competition consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, including 10 sections of 10 questions. Participants prepare for the competition by studying an online study guide. The World Affairs Councils of America decides the 10 topics based on the most relevant global issues of that year. In the case of a tie, the competition can go into a tiebreaker round of 10 multiple-choice questions and then a sudden death round of five questions that require write-in answers.

Approximately 4,000 students across the country participate in competitions hosted by over 40 local World Affairs Councils across the United States. Winning teams are invited to represent their high school, city, and local council at the national competition, held in the spring each year in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

What is Academic WorldQuest (AWQ)?

AWQ is an academic competition for high schools, testing students’ knowledge of international events and current affairs.

How to Play:

Each school can field 2 teams of 5 players. Teams compete by answering 10 rounds of 10 multiple-choice questions.

Benefits of Participating:

  • Material prepares students for existing courses and AP exams

  • Winning team receives a fully funded trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national AWQ competition.

  • There will be prizes for the top 3 teams, and all participants receive a certificate of participation

  • The Louisville team that we sent to D.C. following our last AWQ event won the national competition and was recognized on our website and socials.

AWQ 2025 Timeline:

  • September-October: Organize a group of students and complete early registration forms

  • November-December: Schedule weekly practices with teams; monitor their studying with provided study guides

  • January-February: Teams continue to practice

  • March: Local (State) Competition. Winning team will continue to study for the National Competition

  • April: National Competition is held in Washington, D.C. with winning local team having trip to participate fully funded.

WHY IS ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™ IMPORTANT?

With funding for school programs other than “basics” falling away, the opportunities for high school students to learn geography, world history, and world affairs have dwindled to almost nothing in American high schools, while globalization and interdependence continue to knit the world more closely together each passing day and year.

The World Affairs Council system does a lot to counter this isolationist pedagogical trend already through the making of curriculum units for high schools, the organizing of teachers’ workshops, and the sending abroad of teachers and students. We want to build on our already existing and successful programs that seek to reverse this unfortunate and counterproductive educational trend.

2025 ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™

2025 ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST™ TOPICS

  • The United States and Foreign Languages

  • Space and National Security

  • Nontraditional Approaches to Foreign Policy

  • Music and Globalization

  • Indigenous Peacebuilding

  • Critical Minerals in Africa

  • Borders and Boundaries

  • Mexico: 2025 Focus Country

  • Great Decisions

  • Current Events

AWQ Rules and Regulations

  • Teams are not allowed to consult with the audience, wireless devices, cell phones, other teams, books, or written materials at any point during the competition. Any team found by World Affairs Council judges, runners, or staff to be violating this rule will forfeit that round and a penalty of 20 points will automatically be deducted from that team’s score.​

  • If a team believes another team is cheating, they may tell a WAC representative. However, if the other team is not found to be in violation of any rules, the accusing team will forfeit two (2) points.

  • A team consists of four (4) players. Player substitutions are not allowed. A player can only use the bathroom during the break. If a player leaves at any other point during the rounds, he or she cannot return until after the break. ​

  • Parents, alternates, and other guests must remain “off the floor” at all times.

For more information, please contact us at contact@worldkentucky.org